Study the effect of the external reflector on the efficiency of one sided Vertical Solar Still

Abstract

A vertical solar stills have been constructed under different atmospheric circumstances of Basra city( Iraq). An experimental investigation was carried out on two solar stills under the same conditions with one side evaporative. The still has consists from the basin total area of 0.125 m2, covers the basin still with a piece of black cotton cloth wet with water to be distilled, and one still provided with external reflector for the purpose of direct sunlight to the absorber surface.We found in this experimental study that the efficiency without any improvement (VSS) is (17.6 %) and increases to (38.2 %) by using external reflector (VSSR).